tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9505908268796429022015-09-17T06:43:40.955+01:00Martyn Butler BloggMy Personal Rants and stuff that interests meDr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-18225413095204590992011-07-13T17:43:00.000+01:002011-07-13T17:43:44.469+01:00How Much! ?Friendly pops to talk to customer services on a company website can be a real boon, and if done properly can turn a browser into a customer with just a timely&nbsp;encouragement and further product options to tailor the customer needs to your product range. More importantly it personalises what can be a very antiseptic interaction.<br /><br />Vodafone&nbsp;today - &nbsp;<br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 100%; width: 92%;"><div id="chatContentDiv"><div class="infoText" style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 2px;"><span class="infoText" style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 2px;"><img alt="Chat Information" height="10" src="https://server.lon.liveperson.net/hcp/chatinfo/chatinfo.gif" width="5" /></span>You are about to be connected to a new connection sales adviser for Vodafone UK. Please note they do not have access to existing customer details and cannot process orders or upgrades. If you have a query of this nature please contact customer services.</div><div class="infoText" style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 2px;"><span class="infoText" style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 2px;"><img alt="Chat Information" height="10" src="https://server.lon.liveperson.net/hcp/chatinfo/chatinfo.gif" width="5" /></span>You are now connected with Swarup.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>Hello, you're chatting with Swarup, one of Vodafone's online sales specialists. &nbsp;May I take your name please?</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>I got a XPERIA Mini Pro - while I love Android and Voda was looking at HTC Wildfire S because I really dont like the Sony</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>David ...</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>PAYGO naturally</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>Hello David! Thank you for contacting us.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>HTC Wildfire S is a great phone to own.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>With the Wildfire S, you're just as connected when you're on the move as you are at home. As on the HTC Desire S, it has the latest version of HTC Sense. This includes Friend Stream, which groups all your mates' social network updates together. So whether they're on Facebook, Twitter or Flickr, you can see all their updates, tweets and photos on the same screen at the same time. &nbsp;</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>It has the Android™ smartphone.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>It is*</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>I have seen the HTC Wildfire S Much cheaper sadly - So I may go buy one outright then find the network after</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>We can offer you the pay as you go Wildfire just for £180 a month.</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span><faints></faints></div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>How does that sound to you?</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>Probably the worse deal in Mobile history</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>Okay.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>May I ask what's the deal you are looking for?</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>I could get the HTC Sensation - 4 Of them for £180 a month</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>If I understand you correctly, you are getting the 4 HTC handsets just for £180.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>Is that correct?</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>Well No - Not Exactly BUT You Quoted me £180 a MONTH for the HTC Wildfire S which is clearly a Massive mistake - My Point was that if I can get a HTC Sensation for around £30 a month I could go for 4 of them!</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>I am really sorry for the miscommunication. It's the £180 one off fee for pay as you go.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>It just added the month wrongly after the price in my previous response.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>I*</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>So, you are looking to go ahead with the HTC pay as you go handset?</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>Ok well I will shop around then because there are better deals online - Thanks</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>You're welcome. &nbsp;So, you are looking to go ahead with the HTC pay as you go handset?</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>not yet</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>What other questions do you have for me before getting started with your order?</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>none thanks</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>You're welcome.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>Is there anything else I can do for you today?</div><div class="visitorText" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="visitorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">You:&nbsp;</span>no googbyee</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>Thank you for chatting with Vodafone Online Sales Team. It was a pleasure assisting you. Have a nice time ahead.</div><div class="operatorText" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="operatorName" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Swarup:&nbsp;</span>You have a great time ahead.</div></div></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-41150668225301324472010-06-28T00:40:00.001+01:002010-06-28T17:32:56.735+01:00Are Google out to Kill Facebook?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mF7oOzljt6o/TCfg_E7bQRI/AAAAAAAABW8/mdD-AsUlfII/s1600/killerdroid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mF7oOzljt6o/TCfg_E7bQRI/AAAAAAAABW8/mdD-AsUlfII/s400/killerdroid.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Social networking has always been a fad, from the early Compu$erve chat rooms through iRC Chat to todays massive explosion of Facebook and Twitter, without exception all of these models have been&nbsp;fashion lead and been free. &nbsp; But herein lies the seeds of many a&nbsp;start-ups&nbsp;demise,&nbsp;&nbsp;If you&nbsp;don't&nbsp;subscribe its just too easy to turn your back and walk the other way, look at ICQ, Bebo, Geocities and many others. &nbsp;Every one had legions of users with evangelical zeal that would tell you this is the ultimate destination.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Can Google do it better? &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At first glance it would seem not, Google is a search engine and for many an anonymous corporate giant that has some handy Street Maps and an E-mail service&nbsp;that's&nbsp;getting some bad press over its snooper cars. &nbsp;Its Android geek phone seems to be doing well, but the average consumer has not joined the dots to see how&nbsp;revolutionary the Android OS really is, not helped by phone manufacturers failing to even mention the Android glue that ties it all together in its adverts. ... Powered by an Android Skinned by ... HTC ... Sony how hard is that?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Android problem &nbsp;.....&nbsp;</div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-43120174832625722722010-03-29T22:22:00.000+01:002010-03-29T22:23:39.496+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I went </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmacharya"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Vedic</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> for about three years when I turned 30 .... But then I lived through the sexual revoloution - I was probably knackered.<br /><br />Mentally It coincided with </span><a href="http://www.tht.org.uk/aboutus/ourhistory/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Terry Higgins</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> being dead within days of being on Heavens dance-floor and our worse nightmares coming true as one after one of my friends went to St Thomas' Hospital or St Mary's in no time our next date was the funeral . lots of friends started to appear with Karposis Sarcoma skin cancers too as mentally we set our egg timers.<br /><br />Totally rejecting sex of any kind was no burden - indeed it was a release from the endless chase. I really started enjoying that freedom, and its amazing how much more time and energy I had - and boy I was going to need it during the next few years<br /><br />These days I Never look - sometimes it comes my way - and Ill love being Big spoon in cuddles but If I never had sex again - Cool - it only means I will be doing something interesting with my time.<br />(The above statement is tempered by a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">cancer diagnosis</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> - and ejaculation stings - ooch lol ).<br /><br />So the greatest things i got from celibacy were </span><a href="http://open.spotify.com/track/5gIuGec8KCOxMNhDe9zmHB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Freedom</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> - to find myself -</span></span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-85751970557885639422010-03-06T23:15:00.005+00:002010-03-26T14:56:32.281+00:0032 Million Deaf and Hard of Hearing Phone users in Massive Mobile Network Rip Off Scandal (6M in UK)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mF7oOzljt6o/S5RFfXsCiWI/AAAAAAAABA8/D8wcmoch4SU/s1600-h/textalk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mF7oOzljt6o/S5RFfXsCiWI/AAAAAAAABA8/D8wcmoch4SU/s320/textalk.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446054254634764642" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This would indeed make top headlines in every national and local newspaper and have mobile CEOs heading for the bunkers if these users had a voice, but year in year out the deaf community around the world have put up with the situation. </div><div><br /></div><div>In my case I have had a mobile since the days when a mobile was the size of a car battery. and every month I have paid out a portion of my bill for calls - they have been described as "Talk Time" - Bundled Minutes. And while most plans offer more and more of them there is no such thing as free.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the years My landline and Mobile Minutes have cost me thousands of pounds. </div><div>I cannot use them - I dont want them - but it seems I have no choice </div><div><br /></div><div>I have written to every European Network operator - Members of parliament - Regulators - and virtual networks. Mostly Im ignored or referred to some web page insisting that "We have a commitment to disabled customers" blurb. </div><div><br /></div><div>You would think that at least 1 clever network would seize upon the opportunity of reaching this vast demographic? 9 million Deaf/HOH users in the UK alone.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now some people have suggested we don't NEED a phone - But its Not true I can for example Speak into a phone for 911/999 calls for an ambulance - Fire - or relay a voice message to my family - or indeed get a friend to make a call on my behalf, but the number of times I do this adds up to less than 5 mins a month. </div><div><br /></div><div>Facebook - GTalk - Gmail - MSN Messenger all provide my links to the hearing world, SMS is way less important than it was even 5 years ago and becoming less relevant with each passing day.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>ANDROID is the PERFECT PLATFORM</b> for me and millions like me - Choose my contact and I can see instantly the best method to get my message across.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Can You Help Me?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>If your working for a Network or checking new price plans Please ASK (on behalf of a friend) if they offer a <b>"DEAF TARIFF"</b> and if not Why Not.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please Mention some of the facts above on your Blogs </div><div><br /></div><div>Pester your own networks - Please Give a voice to people that don't have one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Together we could change the world - Remember that many deaf HOH members of our community are often the lowest paid - They can least afford to subsidise your voice calls. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Android DEVELOPERS!! </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Can You think how useful a real Time SUBTITLED world could be if your out and about? </div><div>Imagine being out Shopping or with a group of friends the isolation you feel if everyone Gets a joke except you - because you missed a punchline / or you sign up for a service but incorrectly miss read someone's lips.</div><div>ANDROID has all the tools ready to put together a reasonably reliable real time subtitling machine. </div><div>Noise cancelling microphones - "Speak now" Search Prompt etc we are almost there.... </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks you for taking the time to read this </div><div><br /></div><div>David </div><div><br /></div><div>_________________________________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div>Hey Im Not Alone it seems others are waking up to the idea we get a raw deal<br /><br /><a href="http://androidandme.com/2010/02/news/android-for-the-disabled-carrier-friendliness/">ANDROID FOR THE DISABLED</a> - at the great <b>ANDROID and Me Website </b></div><div><br /></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-79205407051258954562009-11-20T21:31:00.001+00:002009-11-20T21:31:49.396+00:00Google Chrome OS<div>I think CHROME OS will be a run away success on net-books low end laptops and smart TV hybrid devices that need a little more grunt than an Android device. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most of us that will read this site Need our Computers and Applications there is no doubt of that, BUT look around your own circle of friends and family..... how many of them are not connected, through technophobia, cost, age, unemployment - whatever the number its TOO MANY.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I got my first IBM PC I knew computing was for geeks it was hard, Gem Windows in every iteration piled on the learning curve and hey presto - Windows 7 comes along and computing is still for geeks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Where Google will win big time with CHROME OS is buying for this group will be a no brainer. The Devices will be Dirt Cheap - the OS free and there will be thousands of applications from the Android Store that will be surely available </div><div><br /></div><div>My Mom wants to get online at 75 - perfect</div><div>The kids need a cheap safe way to surf - If they loose it - so what - Log on with a new device change your Google Password to be safe - and all your stuff is back with a few mouse clicks.</div><div>Try doing that with Windows 7 </div><div>I have friends on disability benefits or unemployed that cant afford a new PC or have the skills to get "into computing" or see the need for online stuff. Its this group that could benifit the most getting advice support information and job searches. These are the NEW POOR! </div><div>Google Chrome OS could be the the very solution for Information Poverty - Lets wipe it out. </div><div><br /></div><div>Microsoft &amp; Intel have had things pretty much to themselves in the Education field but why do we still not have a computer on every school desk 30 years after we were introduced to the "Personal Computer" ? </div><div>Chrome OS could be the perfect solution - The "Thin Client" comes of age.</div><div><br /></div><div>Go Google show us your best </div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-60506700637928164662009-11-19T13:42:00.000+00:002009-11-19T13:43:07.576+00:00Cost of Nexavar<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">NICE said the cost of Nexavar (Manufactured by BAYER HEALTHCARE for Liver Cancer is about £3,000 a month - was "simply too high".<br /><br />Well at last the Government has had the balls to tell the Drugs Industry It wont pay Sky High prices for monopoly drugs. The NHS Drug Bill is like supporting our own Space Exploration programme.<br /><br />BAYER has effectively lost the UK market - Their only option now is reduce the price and quickly or licence the drug to another company that can re brand it and take a longer view and sell it much cheaper in the long run recouping development costs over a longer period.<br /><br />WHAT CAN WE DO?<br />If you are taking any drugs - check if they are manufactured by BAYER - If they are ask your GP to move you to a similar drug by another manufacturer and ideally cheaper alternative. </span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-78829464706279540462009-11-04T00:31:00.001+00:002009-11-04T00:31:34.497+00:00An Undecided Voter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(98, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap; ">I really dont get it that the Financial Hole is Labours doing Admittedly they were on watch when it all came tumbling down - But its a global problem caused by the banking investment sectors - Gambling effectively Gordon Brown came up with a solution that could - If implemented worldwide Might just stop a banking collapse and a full on depression we have not seen in living memory - If he could bring on board all the leading economy's and bail out (nationalise) the banks - Then a very different outcome was possible. Thankfully a new president was in the oval office and while the world changed before our eyes Gordon Browns plan was put in place. The opposition crowed about blame but failed completely to offer an alternate solution. Today while unemployment is rising and few country's expecting much in the way of growth this year - the catastrophe that could have befallen us has not materialised. Sure after the next election whoever is in power has to grapple with how we deal with a new national debt but lets remember the UK only recently paid off the debt of World War ll - we are kind of used to dealing with debt and there is little public or political desire for doing it too quickly with all the pain that would bring. The traditional monitrist (read Thatcherist) response typically would have let the banks like RBS to bust while they fluffed around listening to advisor's (Bankers). By now there might have been mass unemployment and cunts in government spending beyond our worse nightmares. We have Gordon Brown to thank for that and in some senses when history rembers him he may be listed as one of the most important prime ministers since Churchill. The only thing that should concern us now as voters is who has the best plan to build us out of this hole - My personal view is that Labour should be allowed to try - they have shown superb stewardship during the biggest meltdown in history Last time we had a major downturn (winter of discontent) On Callahans Labour watch - it paved the way for Thatcher to dominate for 18 years. Mor a vast number of people it brought pain closed entirely mining - unions - a massive sell of of our crown jewels and created hundreds of private companies that act as virtual monopoly's. Tried getting Water Gas Electricity Telephone calls cheaper over the years? Yet the poor are still struggling on minimum wage (torys would abolish it) the cuts in public services will hit them harder - and guess who will bear the brunt of most of the job cuts will come from? I really don't want to live through firemen nurses strikes - civil unrest and police firing tear gas on the British streets again. When the Election is called the whole debate MUST rise above the the current level of thinking or we are fucked. An Undecided Voter </span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-24581105592494523412009-09-16T02:53:00.002+01:002009-09-16T02:57:39.829+01:00The shame of wearing hearing aids<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 13px; ">Just read this BBC Blog site titled - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre; "><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/features/the_shame_of_wearing_hearing_aids.shtml">The shame of wearing hearing aids</a></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 13px; ">Im 54 and self taught myself to Lipread until it was discovered at the age of 10 i was severely hard of hearing. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 13px; ">A loud family and a quiet boy put in a class behind my year and then put at the back of the class so the noisy kids were up front near the teacher.<br />I started wearing hearing aids at age 10 and hated them with a vengeance, people treated me like I was a "simpleton" as my grandfather called it. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 13px; "><br />When behind the ear aids became available I was one of the first kids in the country to get them and the NHS supplied an amplivox aid. It was years later before I was allowed to have two. At last I had aids that were cool and I zoomed up a year at school - allowed to sit at the front and scraped by with an O level or two.<br />Careers advisor's assured me that getting a supermarket job was ideal and to expect any more was just being silly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 13px; "><br />I stopped wearing hearing aids for 30 years. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 13px; "><br />Sheer bloody determination and a laser like path into the technology of Film Television Theatre Lighting beaconed and I had a brilliant career in Theatre Cinema Advertising - running my own Laser Display company - and teaching Computer Graphics at Thames Valley University.<br />As co founder of The Terrence Higgins Trust I appeared on many interviews and always managed to convince myself that nobody could guess I was deaf. Or was it simply the fact that I am allergic to hearing aid pink. ?<br /><br />My local audiologist listened to my story and suggested Clear Aids yep the body of the aid is transparent - the circuitry in gold is seen through the plastic - fantastic. Im the envy of every bluetooth mobile tech gadget freak in town - So ok im a 55 year old big kid with a new toy - but I have enjoyed wearing these aids over the past two years.<br />Now I looped the TV audio (My neighbours are so grateful) and im enjoying others company more than ever.<br /><br />Im encouraged when I see Eastenders that have two young cast members wearing hearing aids and I wish we had more examples. Perhaps a hard of hearing detective that miss hears a conversation but gets the clue. If your deaf you will know what I mean ;)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 13px; "> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-16506559739805600932009-09-10T23:49:00.002+01:002009-09-11T00:07:13.862+01:00Gordon Brown recognising the “appalling” way Alan Turing was treated for being gay.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.turingarchive.org/turing.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 201px;" src="http://www.turingarchive.org/turing.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><h3 face="Arial, sans-serif" size="1.2em" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="padding-top: 5px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Alan Turing</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> may have turned the tide for the allies in WW2, and was without a doubt one of our great British heroes, he happened to be gay in a time when it was forbidden.</span></span></h3><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He faced ruin, imprisonment, ridicule and even castration for his sins. At last he gets the recognition he so richly deserves.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; ">Read the statement - 10 Downing St.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2009 has been a year of deep reflection - a chance for Britain, as a nation, to commemorate the profound debts we owe to those who came before. A unique combination of anniversaries and events have stirred in us that sense of pride and gratitude which characterise the British experience. Earlier this year I stood with Presidents Sarkozy and Obama to honour the service and the sacrifice of the heroes who stormed the beaches of Normandy 65 years ago. And just last week, we marked the 70 years which have passed since the British government declared its willingness to take up arms against Fascism and declared the outbreak of World War Two. So I am both pleased and proud that, thanks to a coalition of computer scientists, historians and LGBT activists, we have this year a chance to mark and celebrate another contribution to Britain’s fight against the darkness of dictatorship; that of code-breaker Alan Turing.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Turing was a quite brilliant mathematician, most famous for his work on breaking the German Enigma codes. It is no exaggeration to say that, without his outstanding contribution, the history of World War Two could well have been very different. He truly was one of those individuals we can point to whose unique contribution helped to turn the tide of war. The debt of gratitude he is owed makes it all the more horrifying, therefore, that he was treated so inhumanely. In 1952, he was convicted of ‘gross indecency’ - in effect, tried for being gay. His sentence - and he was faced with the miserable choice of this or prison - was chemical castration by a series of injections of female hormones. He took his own life just two years later.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thousands of people have come together to demand justice for Alan Turing and recognition of the appalling way he was treated. While Turing was dealt with under the law of the time and we can’t put the clock back, his treatment was of course utterly unfair and I am pleased to have the chance to say how deeply sorry I and we all are for what happened to him. Alan and the many thousands of other gay men who were convicted as he was convicted under homophobic laws were treated terribly. Over the years millions more lived in fear of conviction.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am proud that those days are gone and that in the last 12 years this government has done so much to make life fairer and more equal for our LGBT community. This recognition of Alan’s status as one of Britain’s most famous victims of homophobia is another step towards equality and long overdue.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But even more than that, Alan deserves recognition for his contribution to humankind. For those of us born after 1945, into a Europe which is united, democratic and at peace, it is hard to imagine that our continent was once the theatre of mankind’s darkest hour. It is difficult to believe that in living memory, people could become so consumed by hate - by anti-Semitism, by homophobia, by xenophobia and other murderous prejudices - that the gas chambers and crematoria became a piece of the European landscape as surely as the galleries and universities and concert halls which had marked out the European civilisation for hundreds of years. It is thanks to men and women who were totally committed to fighting fascism, people like Alan Turing, that the horrors of the Holocaust and of total war are part of Europe’s history and not Europe’s present.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So on behalf of the British government, and all those who live freely thanks to Alan’s work I am very proud to say: we’re sorry, you deserved so much better.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gordon Brown</span></p></span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-69876601848439182472009-08-08T02:50:00.002+01:002009-08-24T22:42:14.379+01:00Time for a Deaf Phone TariffNine million people in the UK (15% of the population) suffer from permanent, disabling hearing loss.<br /><br />The estimated demographic figure has ranged from 22 million deaf and hard of hearing to as high as 36 million deaf and hard of hearing worldwide. Of these, only a few million are considered "deaf" and the remainder are hard of hearing but cannot use a phone.<br /><br />for 30 years this group has had to PAY for Unused "Call Time" and I for one is sick of it. <br /><br />Surely for a majority of us that really dislike phones wishes a network would provide a worldwide backbone for these data only services.<br /><br />A revolution is taking place in the mobile device market - Smart phones like the HTC HERO and other Google / ANDROID phones will be introduced later in the year are truly open source - this means the software is free - and thousands of developers are busy creating useful applications that would truly enrich our lives - live email - instant messengers - Live Subtitles - video on demand .... <br /><br />I want to hear from DEAF Users - (especially the angry ones that are fed up with the way DEAF users are treated) by phone networks. Call centres - paying out every month for hundreds of so called "FREE TALK TIME". <br /><br />Well I have had enough of 25 years of FREE TALK TIME I CANNOT USE.<br /><br />I have put out calls to the Google ANDROID developers to see if they can provide as real time as possible SUBTITLES to speech. - yep on a hand-held - <br />Switch on the app and anything heard by microphone could be sent to a server for voice to text and squirted back to the phone. C<br /><br />So All you can eat Data Plan - Pay for calls as you go. a Lovely Android Phone and best of all IF your a network it could add millions of LOYAL customers and their mothers and brothers.<br /><br />Please call or write to your network - ask them if they would consider a DEAF TARIFF - it might actually be very good for business. <br /><br />* Update 24th August 2009<br /><br />RNID?: Yes I have written to the RNID however when it comes to technological issues the RNID seems stuck in the mid 70's <br /><br />I also take issue with the Teletype service in the UK - its time it was abandoned completely. If you proposed a network for the deaf tomorrow and it required the sort of hardware available over a dial up line that only really served the deaf community and was not available to talk or communicate with external devices you would be laughed off the blogisphere. <br /><br />I have also written to all the networks and virtual networks - apart from some standard reply about their commitment to equal opportunities few even acknowledged they saw the problem. You can rest assured I keep the pressure on.<br /><br />None saw the vast business opportunity.<br /><br />Number 10 has a petition, and every MP in the country has been petitioned many writing in to offer support.<br /><br />I have also asked the ANDROID development community to consider DEAF applications for the 20 or so Android phones coming to market by year end.<br />Suggestions so far would offer Live Subtitles for a conversation, Lip readers could just glance at their screens rather than saying - "sorry what did you say?" - That alone could transform some peoples lives. <br /><br />Im also often told text packages are cheap - and be grateful for X thousands a month. <br />TEXT is YESTERDAYS tech - The world communicates via social networking - Facebook - Email - Forums Instant - Messenger - Twitter, they are universal and not device dependant.<br /><br />Google Android on an open network offers free software - very low cost applications and a vast range of manufacturers producing devices at all price points. So the Time Is Right! <br /><br />Some people have asked why a phone at all - use an ipod touch type of device on wifi?<br />Well its a myth Deaf people cant use a phone - for one someone in my circle might need to make a call or in some circumstances I can reply to a message with a call- Like telling your lift the concert has finished and pick me up outside the theatre. Calling emergency services do not require you to hear the operator as long as you keep repeating there is a fire at 555 High Street and a baby needs to be rescued.Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-4682427100757304812009-06-02T13:12:00.004+01:002009-06-02T13:45:12.821+01:00"Going HIGH DEFINITION"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mF7oOzljt6o/SiUezNABarI/AAAAAAAAAgY/ryL7wid9QTA/s1600-h/almost+ready.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 104px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mF7oOzljt6o/SiUezNABarI/AAAAAAAAAgY/ryL7wid9QTA/s320/almost+ready.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342710397956876978" /></a><br />FREESAT was set up to make sure that everyone has the best of free digital TV, no matter where they live in the UK as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV.<br />Their site boasts "We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy free digital TV, plus free HD programmes, with no contract and no subscription, just a one-off payment." <br /><br />A vast costs allegedly involved in R & D and costs of software and freedoms of the market, choice and always the needs to show a profit. I could not agree more with many of those points and would encourage far more action from those involved than words<br /><br />Times have changed for the consumer, when money is tight, they are bewildered by format wars of one kind or another and at the end of the day being offered a lousy deal in the High Street. <br /><br />And almost every TV salesman I have talked to on a recent shopping expedition was being downright dishonest to get a sale. (Pointing to a supermarket 720p set with "Freeview", - That TV there sir has the same screen as that £3,000 model over there, but its our own brand. ( Bargain then! ).<br /><br />Putting FREEVIEW on a High Definition TV, even on entry level models is like a Windows 3 user putting "Go Faster" lights on his PC, <br />In the brocure it looks great to add FREEVIEW as a plus - its free - and is true plug and play.<br /><br />FREESAT however which carrys and controlls fantastic HD content we have allready paid for with our TV licences is nowhere to be seen, Or only at a hefty premium above an equivalent model without the tuner.<br /><br />Sure some TV manufacturers are coughing up for a Freesat Licence but at what coist to us the consumer? <br />I simply dont understand why any 1080 set is sold with "built in" FREEVIEW" when the world has moved on.<br /><br />Whatever the excuses from Freesat, The BBC, The Regulators, retailers, Manufacturers or some Euro Quango - Sort It Out! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TV BUYERS<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> If you can hold out on going "HIGH DEFINITION" wait, let these shelves full of "Almost High Definition Televisions" gather dust and choke the supply lines, In a short time ALL but the very low end bargain bucket TVs in the high street will have FREESAT built in.Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-79696270665598837742009-06-01T01:08:00.001+01:002009-06-01T01:10:07.649+01:00Twitter Picture UploadsI Tried to upload a small picture to a Twitter profile in CHROME - Firefox - and Internet Exploder - SURELY TO GOD someone can add these 2 lines to the UPLOAD PAGE <br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">** Sorry we are experiencing some problems with picture Uploading **<br /><br /> If your having trouble please try later - or clickH ERE for more help. </span><br /><br />(Feel free to cut and paste it twitter folk) <br /><br />Then perhaps you will save us the trouble of trying with GIF PNG JPG versions at different sixes and different browsers dammit - LIFE IS TOO SHORT WHEN YOU GOT CANCER! <br /><br />/breathesDr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-32819131050615322912009-05-29T00:27:00.002+01:002009-05-29T00:31:15.383+01:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/05/snapdragon-smartbook-guide.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 510px; height: 394px;" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/05/snapdragon-smartbook-guide.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"><br /><br />Snapdragon specifications really rock, this demo on this prototypes are to wet the lips of decision makers, Sanadragon specs <a href="http://www.qualcomm.co.uk/products_services/chipsets/snapdragon.html">LINK Snapdragon</a> clearly open the possibility of a netbook that will run at speeds without thinking you had just booted up in 1980. Now if there was a convertible tablet with a keyboard flip at around 12 inches loaded up with Google Android and Google Crome put me down for the first 10,000 of one that has the look of some of todays Zune glamour shots.<br /><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-1254612193016786312009-05-28T03:27:00.004+01:002009-05-28T16:22:18.303+01:00The Digital Divide - Vote Labour ?<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Digital Divide - The Poor, The Disabled, The Deaf , The Unemployed, The Retired in the UK all pay more for a second rate Internet access - Universal discrimination - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><vote></vote></span></span></span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For a socialist government not to have used its influence to ensure a universal access to information and communications and education to all its people will be looked upon in future years as a shameful neglect on the growth and enrichment of </span><span class="misspell" suggestions="every one's,every-one's,everyone,Efren's,Efrain's"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">everyone's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> lives.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today a £200 </span><span class="misspell" suggestions="net book,net-book,notebook,notebooks,network"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">netbook</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> with can stuffed with free stuff ... ANDROID - Google Applications -Mail - Chrome - Calender - Docs - Spreadsheets - Video- Chat - Voice &amp; Video Messaging, Search - Maps - Links to medical Employment - encyclopedias - direct.gov.uk News And you could transform the lives of a a generation of users that have never previously had access.</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There are enough wireless transmitters already available unused in the UK with a vast amount of radio spectrum and dark fibre running the length of the country to offer a basic free universal data service to everyone in the UK within months of legislation being past by whatever government is in power.. </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The UK Network has been built, paid for buy all of us that voted for free enterprise to enable the private sector to deliver pretty much what we already had in the GPO It could be argued that privatisation freed up the vast amounts it took to create and improve our existing networks but while the technology is there our high streets have armies of resellers trying to sell us more of the same to people that cant afford it that are the very people that need it most. </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And of all of our so called electronic evangelists I really cant yet see the guys with the vision and political will to bring it all together. </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Deafness discrimination is an issue close to heart,and I feel passionately that it cannot be right that a deaf consumer is forced to buy "voice or talk time" every month just to be able to use email and instant messaging, over the years of a mobile contract a deaf consumer is forced to spend thousands of pounds on completely unused or unwanted "Call Time" package. </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There are 119,000 tariffs on the "free market "not one of which offers our 9 million deaf or hard of hearing citizens the perfect package.</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My 70 year old mother - yes she's a silver surfer (though she would swear its "Ash Blondie" is fortunate to have 24 hour access but she's still got to drive through the city at 8.00 am to get to a doctors surgery to be told the doctor is away today sorry and no locum is standing in. A live web page would not only saved a difficult journey at a peak time of day but could have have allowed her to to book an appointment, re order prescriptions - find health education links - Even ask her </span><span class="misspell" suggestions="GPS,Gaps,Gyps,GPA,Gos" id="bad_word"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">GPs</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> questions but no we are provided with an out of date business card that and told to use to telephone lines that are never answered. </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So called third world countries are years ahead of the UK when it comes to Universal Access - We should not condemn a generation for our short-sightedness- </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vote Labour ? Twitter for all! </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div></span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-12667766789842681272009-05-21T12:07:00.002+01:002009-05-21T12:10:32.279+01:00A November Election - PLEASE!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;">Im getting fed up of people and the media winging on about MPs expenses he rules have allowed them to do this - indeed the whole point of the expenses was to stop an MPs revolt in the first place<br /><br />MPs weather you agree or not deserve to be paid more than some backwater comprehensive<br /><br />I don't see many MPs actually breaking any laws - the ones that did it for a tax fiddle on sold homes etc. should be slapped hard and pay it back<br /><br />Now lets move fucking on - there's a country to run.<br /><br />Interestingly all this shit has actually caused the Torys a lot of percentage points in the popularity stakes - Labour could not be much lower - but then that's par for the course if you been in power this length of time. Go on Gordon - here's your opportunity - A November election - announce it now before the Euros. you may not get a better opportunity.</span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-74572945308023993522009-01-15T23:14:00.002+00:002009-01-15T23:19:50.990+00:00Heathrow Runway Three<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lets face it its no place to bring up kids - this runway is already 20 tears overdue - with prommised fast rail links to the Midlands - Wales and beyond - it cant come quick enough - the villagers - while shedding tears - remember they are the tears of people that will be able to afford very lovely luxury homes anywhere in the country they like - with a few bob over for the inconvenience. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Plus lets not forget that ANYONE that's moved into the area in the past 30 years have been aware that a 3rd Runway was in the planning - They only bought there knowing one day their houses would have to be purchased by the Airport - £££ </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&amp;source=s_q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=heathrow&amp;sll=51.587405,-3.008684&amp;sspn=0.169798,0.350189&amp;g=Newport,+Gwent,+NP20&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=51.484269,-0.45722&amp;spn=0.042546,0.087547&amp;t=h&amp;z=14">Look at the Map</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> - These people are alreadt living on a runway sandwiched between perimeter roads, M4 and Airport buildings. now - this way they we ALL gain - Win Win - </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We now return you to news reports of the sobbing villagers ............... </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-89219555431172407932008-12-23T23:55:00.001+00:002008-12-23T23:55:13.306+00:00All about GoogleCheck out this SlideShare Presentation: <div style="width:425px;text-align:left" id="__ss_810243"><a style="font:14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;display:block;margin:12px 0 3px 0;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/misteroo/all-about-google-presentation?type=powerpoint" title="All about Google">All about Google</a><object style="margin:0px" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=google14qen-last-version-1228241181867301-9&stripped_title=all-about-google-presentation" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=google14qen-last-version-1228241181867301-9&stripped_title=all-about-google-presentation" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="font-size:11px;font-family:tahoma,arial;height:26px;padding-top:2px;">View SlideShare <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/misteroo/all-about-google-presentation?type=powerpoint" title="View All about Google on SlideShare">presentation</a> or <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/upload?type=powerpoint">Upload</a> your own. (tags: <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/google">google</a> <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/strategy">strategy</a>)</div></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-16405960586683834102008-12-01T17:34:00.000+00:002008-12-01T17:35:30.618+00:00World AIDS Day 2008<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Watching Terry Higgins die without warning and within a few short years knowing so many beautiful young guys transform seemingly overnight into shadows of their former selves had a devastating effect on those that survived too. I used to write their names in the front of my bible - so I would not forget their names, but when the list of funerals I attended reached 50 it seemed wrong too to tally them up and I stopped counting. In recent years of course medications stopped the torrent, but im ever mindful that we never know when those dark days will return, either because hiv will mutate faster than therapy can be produced or as more likely - people don't get tested - and develop serious secondary infections that will be the first indication that anything is wrong - too late for many. Us old guys have seen the future - it does not need to be grim - But you really must heed the warnings - Play Safely - Get Tested! Its as important now as it ever was. We lost a generation of guys - and today we remember them with love and sadness that they were infected without the knowledge to protect themselves with information thats freely available today - Dont let their deaths be in Vain</span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-22848696879589395432008-10-30T21:09:00.002+00:002013-03-15T22:50:15.500+00:00A4e Worse Experience for unemployed as seen on TV<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><br /><div id="yd7o" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;">Today I had a brand new experience, which for a guy of 53 with my already extraordinary lifestyle was pretty dam exciting ;)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If it were not just a little bit scary.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been fortunate enough to try the governments latest strategy in preventing the pain of mass unemployment as it privatises the old "Ministry of Labour".</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>A4e</i></b> a £120m, 2500-strong, global private sector organisation the UK's largest provider under the Jobcentre Plus / New Deal brand, A4e deliver employment training to over 60,000 people every year paid for by the Department for Works and Pensions. (<a href="http://docs.google.com/www.a4e.co.uk" id="htc0" target="_blank" title="Visit A4e Website">www.a4e.co.uk</a> ). Located in the old South Wales Argus print halls off Newport High Street.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img id="i5.7" src="http://docs.google.com/File?id=dsfjrhp_140dff2k8f7_b" style="float: right; height: 63px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; width: 180px;" /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Day one got off to a bumpy start, twice as many Jobcentre Plus customers had been signed up than were expected so were left sitting in an icy cold room with a noticeable wind chill factor until mid morning while photo copiers were set in motion and decisions were taken about how to carve us up, by mid morning the Victor Meldrew in me could contain itself no more, I piped up and askd if we could actually get on with it?, please.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The temperature dropped in the already ice cold room and the pain in my TB scared testical throbbed with a gut wrenching ache, normally just a reliable barometer that snow was on its way.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was hauled out of the room and made to feel like a naughty primary child being made an example of in front of the class and I was marched to head mistress office and demanded I tell them who my Jobcentre Plus Advisor was and added that they had some power to stop my benefits and housing support and everything! - Suddenly it dawns on me these jokers are for real. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was sent back to the group and when she finally returned I'm informed I'm to go with her to the Headmistress - . So I unreservedly apologised for any upset I may have caused her by implying she was disorganised or poorly trained.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Off With His Head! she yelled! - at least that what I swear to my dying day is what I heard, (National Health </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img id="f20z" src="http://docs.google.com/File?id=dsfjrhp_141c4m6b9d4_b" style="float: right; height: 175px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; width: 233px;" /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hearing Aids should be considered a crime against humanity). But no, he should be struck off she was demanding, I should be sent back to Jobcentre Plus be punished she insisted, at that moment I looked down </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">into my lap and saw the funny side - In my lap was a paperback of WICKED I just picked up at the - and of course looked up at my nemesis.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Happy days we all kissed and made up and it was decided by the very wise headmistress that I was to be shuffled off to a delightful and bubbly A4E employee on the floor above. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At Last the school bell went off and everyone scrambled for the doors like it was the last day of term, I stayed behind for a while to say hi to my new mentor and guide for the next 16 weeks. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Well thats the plan but only if my two minor surgical procedures scheduled for the next two weeks don't keep me away for more than a week or the whole scene shimmers to a freeze frame and your suddenly propelled back at to GO! - do not collect £200. You are automatically signed off. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You are now newly unemployed and start the whole process again.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thankfully Newport Jobcentre Plus are becoming a little more deafness aware and don't force me to use the telephone booking system and were able to get me back onto benifits quite quickly even if I did loose sight of my poor employment advisor under a mountain of paperwork it caused.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img id="lvwx" src="http://docs.google.com/File?id=dsfjrhp_142fngq25f4_b" style="float: left; height: 212px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em; width: 284px;" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Infuriatingly it costs Newport City Council a fortune in labour and administration costs to stop any housing </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">benefits only to have to start them all over again the very next day. I suspect that office is staffed by a white rabbit running around looking at his watch yelling <b><i>I'm Late I'm Late!</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I really don't know if my anti-depressants are going to hold If I got to do an induction week a third time.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><img id="bl:y" src="http://docs.google.com/File?id=dsfjrhp_143fhbmwqd5_b" style="float: right; height: 248px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; width: 235px;" /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Suddenly the words <b><i>LOCKDOWN</i></b> filtered through my hearing </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">aids and a vision of storm troopers flashed through my mind as those of us stragglers were told that "we could not leave the building until searched by police". At this stage I am half expecting a third rate reality TV film crew to burst in and say how hilarious we have all been. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We were left to ponder our fate, a fellow prisoner and I checked that the emergency exits were unlocked in case of an armed or violent incident and waited anxiously for news. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It transpired that an A4e client 2 floors down was suspected of dealing drugs and a Lockdown is a state temporary imprisonment until cleared by police often using sniffer dogs.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There were no sniffer dogs present today, indeed I did not see any police presence in my part of the building when we were released.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thursday we are all prepared, snow gear, gloves carves and 3 layers of underwear keeps the frostbite out but sadly our Health and Safety lecturer was snowed in so we had a movie and general knowledge quiz to distract us from staring through the frosted windows at the staff huddled around a fan heater. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My own fairy god mother appeared to tell me I am going to the ball - so its Cinderella Time for me as I get a placement at the Riverside Theatre until January. I don't know what job they have in mind but I will pack my wellys and grab my mop bucket just in case. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I would welcome your thoughts if you had been as fortunate as I have been today. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Kind regards </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">David</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">________________________________</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img id="v30v" src="http://docs.google.com/File?id=dsfjrhp_144c55hm7tp_b" style="float: left; height: 152px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em; width: 203px;" /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“You certainly have an exciting life!”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It all appaers to have ended well. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Very best wishes,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i>Paul Flynn MP</i></b> House of Commons London SW1A OAA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></span></span></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-14730437411690704322008-10-05T14:39:00.002+01:002008-10-05T14:46:30.137+01:00Welcome Home Mandy - We missed you<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/374705841_a279f8aabf_o.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/374705841_a279f8aabf_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Peter Mandelson</span></span> - Aside of the fact he looks a real dweeb, he attracts controversy like flys to shit, he sounds like a queen, has had more comebacks than Tina Turner, he does have one of the sharpest political minds in Britain today. It is great to see him back - The potential depression ahead needs his experience, with our European partners and he knows personally every world leader, ministers of trade and finance - name a single tory that comes close? </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(98, 0, 0); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Now if Gordon Brown would just phone Ken Livingstone and give him something like Transport people would remember the Gordon Brown era as a Labour Golden Age. </span></span></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-29718579810268639462008-09-20T02:15:00.005+01:002008-09-20T02:39:10.055+01:00WILL MARTIN<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">WILL MARTIN</span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Probbably the most exciting discovery of the new mellenium. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">A New World</span></div><div><br /></div><div>The very cute and breathtakingly talented 24 year old is sure to make a massive impact on the gay sene, with a a background that includes school musicals, playing piano in bars, waiting tables and singing in a rock band Will sang the national anthem for a sold out All Blacks Final.</div><div>His New album <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">"A New World"</span> has already gone platinum 2 days before it hits the shops here in the UK. </div><div>Great news for music lovers hes now based in the UK </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">A New World</span> - is a collection of classical and contemporary songs composed by the world’s greatest songwriters. The repertoire includes Dvorak’s ‘<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Going Home</span>’, right through to ‘<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Into The West</span>’ from The Lord Of The Rings, with all the anthemic arrangements brought to fruition by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hes keeping me guessing ... but here are some quotes that quicken my heart : " I have been chatted up by guys in the past. I find it truly flattering and I like to think that the music has something to do with it! If people are enjoying my music and me as an artist, then that is a beautiful thing." I for one would put him in the Celtic Manor and order up a Steinway as he starts his unique <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Singing For His Supper tour</span>".</div><div><br /></div><div>Will is about to embark on an intriguing tour of the UK. Deciding to do it the old fashioned way, Will is set to exchange a song for his supper!</div><div><br /></div><div>Following the example of minstrels from the middle ages, Will will be travelling across the UK and in exchange for supper and a bed for the night he will entertain the household. </div><div><br /></div><div>Will is hungry to experience everything that the UK has to offer and sees this as a way of travelling around the UK doing what he loves best; singing. </div><div><br /></div><div>To apply for Will to come and play at your house, <a href="http://www.gumtree.com/london/96/28734396.html">visit his advert on Gumtree</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Youtube</span></span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/willmartinmusic">http://www.youtube.com/willmartinmusic</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Myspace</span></span> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/willmartinofficial">http://www.myspace.com/willmartinofficial</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Homepage</span></span> <a href="http://www.willmartin.net/">http://www.willmartin.net/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Amazon</span></span> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-World-Will-Martin/dp/B000YVCQZM">http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-World-Will-Martin/dp/B000YVCQZM</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Official <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Download</span></span> of Single - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">So Far Away</span></span> - <a href="http://www.universalbuybutton.com/?k=U7780Y7800Q7800I7850">Links Classics &amp; Jazz / itunes / napster/ tesco</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.rainbownetwork.com/UserPortal/Article/Detail.aspx?ID=22404&amp;sid=1">Rainbow Nation</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://paulasa.com/images/WillMartin.jpg">Pic from a while ago im guessing .. </a></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_w_zRFBIqdhc/SLnL7rMr5FI/AAAAAAAABL8/pN6i4fN1u4g/s1600-h/HeadandShoulders.jpg">Pic lookin a lil ginger :</a> </div><div><a href="http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o161/Grantawwright/2008-2625forum.jpg">Brit Awards </a></div><div><a href="http://www.trustcite.co.nz/files/cache/44.jpg">Cheeky guy next door </a></div><div><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/pudsey/images/willmartin340.jpg">The UK Look </a></div><div><a href="http://www.gumtree.com/posting_images/96/28734396__1221647153__1__1-b31e8628addf155fddfd9067857951a3.__big__.jpg">Album Art </a></div><div><br /></div><div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-52440087571893146882008-07-17T18:16:00.001+01:002008-07-17T18:31:38.844+01:00Statutory Drinking Licence UK<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Its a real shame the UK still does not have a national identity card system-<br /><br />A huge problem in every city centre late night shopping area and public spaces is the amout of binge drinking by youths.<br /><br />The ID chip on the card can provide a a partition for your <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Statutory Drinking Licence</span></span> -<br /><br />If you wish to enter a Licenced Premises you must swipe your card to gain entry.<br /><br />To Purchase Any Alcohol The </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Statutory Drinking Licence</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> Card</span> </span>must be swiped at Point Of Sale:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Age 14</span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Provisional Licence</span></span> - Personal Use Only<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Age 18</span> 20 min formal Test &amp; issued <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">DRINKING LICENCE</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Age 21</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Advanced Licence</span> (Licensees, Trading, Bulk Bulk buyer).<br /><br />Drunk and Disorderly automatically loose licence 3 months (Can be imposed on the spot by police officer).<br />Any <span style="font-weight: bold;">Provisional Licence</span> holder found guilty of a drink related crime <span style="font-weight: bold;">Licence revoked until 18th birthday</span><br />Any licence holder <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">selling alcohol to a Non-Licence holder will pay a statutory fine PLUS loose Drinking Licence</span> for a fixed period set by the court.<br /><br />Treat people like adults they will behave like it.<br /></span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-63605974138800209002008-07-10T21:24:00.000+01:002008-07-10T21:26:03.660+01:00Mahler 8th Symphony at St. Paul's Cathedral, London with the LSOimagine living a life and not discovering Mahler - they would have to invent reincarnation just so you get another shot at itDr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-77489467454337284522008-06-27T12:24:00.000+01:002008-06-27T12:25:29.194+01:00TV & PVR REVIEWERS missing 8 million users .....<p>I wish all reviewers would start testing Subtitle performance<br />When deaf people rely on Subtitles or the many thousands of users that put it on as an English teaching aid subtitles are really important, sadly sky platform can be appalling, sometimes its down to weather, or dish alignment is not spot on, or subtitles lag so you can be reading what happened five mins ago.<br />Worse offenders are advert breaks, a big splash across your screen imploring you to BE KIND TO YOUR BOTTOM - Andrex … and it stubbornly remains there 5 mins into the next programme until your forced to change channel and back.<br />The Font and Big Bold helvetica font has not changed in 30 years. Its awful, time has moved on when will at least one manufacturer at least try to offer an alternative.<br />choose a font, a colour scheme, transparency, with or without background.<br />We want real subtitles, not something dreamed up in the days of CEEFAX time has moved on.</p> <p>Deaf and hard of hearing adults in the UK *</p> <p>These are the latest estimated figures for the number of deaf and hard of hearing adults in the UK. There are:</p> <p>* 8,945,000 deaf and hard of hearing people<br />* 2,474,000 deaf and hard of hearing people aged 16 to 60<br />* 6,471,000 deaf and hard of hearing people aged over 60<br />* 8,257,000 people with mild to moderate deafness<br />* 2,366,000 people with mild to moderate deafness aged 16 to 60<br />* 5,891,000 people with mild to moderate deafness aged over 60<br />* 688,000 people with severe to profound deafness<br />* 108,000 people with severe to profound deafness aged 16 to 60<br />* 580,000 people with severe to profound deafness aged over 60.</p> <p>*RNID</p>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950590826879642902.post-54475935821829174452008-06-20T20:13:00.001+01:002008-06-20T20:15:04.297+01:00DRUGFUCKED<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><b>DRUGFUCKED</b><br />Animation, music engaging and entertaining.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://drugfucked.tht.org.uk/">http://drugfucked.tht.org.uk</a></span>Dr Alexander Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182893272891856635noreply@blogger.com0